Scripture - Valleyview Community Church

Through the Bible in a Year 2012 SOAP Devotional Journal
Message from Pastor Jason
As a new year is upon us, it is a season for many to make
resolutions, things they will work hard to achieve whether it be
shedding a few pounds, dropping an unhealthy habit, or
making some other life change.
The purpose of this SOAP Devotional Journal is to provide a
resource which will nudge skeptics, fans, and followers of Jesus
into the Bible in a way that goes beyond simply reading the
text, but listening to, meditating upon, wrestling with, and living
out the living, active Word of God in our lives and community.
I find it fascinating that God commanded men like Ezekiel,
Jeremiah and John to “eat” God’s Word. Certainly this is not a
literal command to digest ink and paper, but the analogy
implies that we are to go beyond casual reading of the Bible to
pondering and praying over the text, allowing the Holy Spirit to
refine and form our hearts and lives through the living, active
Word of God (Heb. 4:12).
My hope and prayer is that this Devotional Journal will serve as
a useful resource not only for personal bible study but for
families, lifegroups, and the entire church family to dive deep
into the nourishing Word of God.
The more we get into God’s Word, the more it gets into us.
People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that
comes from the mouth of God. – Matthew 4:4 (NLT)
Pastor Jason
S-O-A-P Devotional Journal
Christ gave up his life for the church to make her holy and
clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
Ephesians 5:25b-26 (NLT)
S for Scripture
Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date of your Bible
bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When
you are done, look for a verse (or verses) that particularly spoke to
you that day, and write it in your journal.
O for Observation
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy
Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this
scripture down in your own words, in your journal. Generally Scripture
passages speak truth about both God’s nature and character
(theology) and about the nature of our fallen humanity
(anthropology). Observe and record what the Scripture is revealing
about both the nature of God and humanity in the passage.
A for Application
Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to
your life situation right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement,
revelation of a new promise or dimension of God’s infinite love and
wisdom, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this
scripture can practically apply to you today.
P for Prayer
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it
may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.
Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so take time to listen to
God as well as responding in prayer and praise. Write down anything
the Holy Spirit has impressed upon your heart during this time of
prayer.
The daily Scripture passages can be listened to with the
corresponding date at www.dailyaudiobible.org